Actress Mia Farrow's younger brother is facing up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to child sex abuse charges, despite maintaining he is innocent.

John Charles Villers-Farrow was arrested last November (12) amid allegations he sexually abused two of his young neighbours between the years of 2000 and 2008.

A trial into the case began at Maryland's Annapolis court last Thursday (25Jul13), when the married 66 year old stood accused of 39 counts of child molestation.

The trial was halted on Friday (26Jul13) after Villers-Farrow entered the Alford plea, which allows a defendant to maintain innocence while acknowledging that authorities have sufficient evidence to convict.

He decided to enter the plea to reduce the time he would spend behind bars, which, if found guilty of all charges, could have been up to 50 years.

Judge Laura S. Kiessling revoked Villers-Farrow's bail and remanded him in custody until he is sentenced in September (13).